Early Childhood
Where I Stand
I believe that all District families should have the resources they need so that their children can reach their full potential.
Many Ward 1 residents are raising families – I happen to be one of them. I believe that all District families should have the resources they need so that their children can reach their full potential. As the Chair of the Human Services Committee, I am working to support and reform District programs that support parents and their children.
What I've Done
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I’ve been a consistent advocate for the “Birth-to-Three for All DC Act,” which expands access to critical educational, social, and health services to parents through home visitation, phone-based counseling, and at pediatrician offices.
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In the FY2020 budget, I was able to shift $2.4 million to pay for Birth-to-Three child development facilities by reducing the Qualified High Technology Company tax credit.
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Introduced the Child Safety and Well-Being Ombudsperson Amendment Act of 2019, which creates an independent advocate for children and families in DC's child welfare services.
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Co-introduced, passed, and funded the Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy Pilot, expanding the Grandparent Caregiver Subsidy Program to include other relatives of a child, including siblings, aunts, and uncles.
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Introduced the Equal Access to Changing Tables Amendment Act of 2019, which ensures adequate diaper changing facilities in restrooms regardless of gender.
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Introduced and funded the Leverage for Our Future Act of 2019, which supports home visiting services to first-time mothers.
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Held a Public Oversight Roundtable on Home Visiting Services for new and expectant mothers.
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Amended the Foster-Parent Training Regulation Amendment Act to include in-service training for foster parents providing care to youth with special needs.
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Introduced the Child Neglect and Sex Trafficking Emergency Amendment Act of 2018.
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Introduced a bill to expand access to Department of Health (DOH) home visiting services. These services provide new parents and children with health and development support to foster an environment for children (birth to age three) that starts them on the road to a positive and healthy life.
- Introduced a bill that would establish a universal “baby box” program, which would give a box of baby supplies to all newborns and foster children that doubles as a bassinet for safe sleep, as well as establish more robust education and training for new parents.
- Reformed DC’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to prevent families and children facing extreme hardship (like domestic abuse, mental or physical impairment, and low literacy) from being cut off from needed aid.
- Reformed DC’s TANF program, which now prevents a child’s portion of the TANF benefit from being sanctioned due to inaction of a parent.
- Reforms added $2.2 million to DC TANF for family assistance.
- Reforms added $2.2 million to DC TANF for family assistance.
- Co-introduced and strongly advocated for DC’s new Paid Family Leave law.
- DC’s new paid leave gives eight weeks of paid leave for new parents, six weeks to care for a sick family member, and two weeks for personal medical issues.
- DC’s new paid leave gives eight weeks of paid leave for new parents, six weeks to care for a sick family member, and two weeks for personal medical issues.
- Voted to increase subsidies for early childhood vouchers.
- Co-Introduced the Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Amendment Act of 2017, which focuses lead abatement efforts on DC Public Schools’ water quality.
- Co-introduced the Public School Health Services Amendment Act of 2017, which requires all DC Public Schools to be staffed by a full-time nurse.
- Co-introduced a bill to preserve women’s well-visit coverage regardless of changes to the Affordable Care Act.
- Co-introduced Books from Birth, which supports literacy by giving a free book to District children every month for their first five years.